By: Stan Weber, Director of Donor Care

Advent is a time of anticipating the timely arrival of the Prince of Peace. We find comfort in knowing that Jesus is our Prince of Peace.

However, for many, this Advent season may be a most “unpeaceful time” as we face peace disturbers. These disturbers can be at a micro level: stressed or severed family relationships, loneliness, and bouts of depression. They can also be found at the macro level: wars and rumors of war, political unrest, and racial and cultural turmoil.

A research project conducted by BARNA for The Connected Generation (October 2020) showed that forty-nine percent of U.S. 18-35-year-olds expressed anxiety over important decisions and were afraid to fail. Thirty-nine percent said they felt sad or depressed, and thirty-four percent said they were lonely and isolated from others. Statistically, in many ways, this data describes the peace disturbers of our teachers and educators, students, and their families of origin.

Scripture provides a message of hope for the peace disturbed. Philippians 6:45 calls us into a place of prayer and thanksgiving with the words, “Do not be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” 

How should United4Hope coordinators or U4H volunteers step into this? How do we become agents of PEACE? 

We are called to ‘strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up’ Romans 14:9.

• Be prayed up. Pray for the teachers, staff, and students you will be interacting with. Watch God do His work. 
• Avoid a frantic pace prior to serving. Come in with a fresh spirit to serve.
• Suspend judgment. Speak words that encourage. 
• Offer your assistance, don’t hold back.